Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Free agency opens quietly
The start to NFL free agency may have begun quietly for the Miami Dolphins on Monday.
But that does not mean the Dolphins are not working diligently toward improving their roster before coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier’s third season together in Miami.
Still, the Dolphins saw the top running back available sign a new deal to stay with his old team, their bitter AFC East rival in New England improve with four signees, and the Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-sign their key players.
The Dolphins may have inquired about but did not land any of the top, high-priced free agents as the NFL’s tampering period for free agency began Monday at noon.
They did agree to a one-year deal with outside linebacker Vince Biegel, hoping he can return from an Achilles tear to add depth to the defensive line. The Dolphins had roughly $33 million of salary cap space this offseason, with $12 million needed to sign the rookies they will select in the 2021 NFL draft in April.
With fewer than $20 million to really work with, unless some current contracts are restructured, the Dolphins may feel signing a top-tier, expensive talent could price them out with some more affordable options this offseason.
It’s a far cry from an offseason ago when Miami had nearly $100 million in free agency, and signed players like cornerback Byron Jones, offensive lineman Ereck Flowers, and edge rushers like Emmanuel Ogbah, Shaq Lawson and Kyle Van Noy.
And now that the Dolphins have parted with Lawson and Van Noy, Miami has needs to fill at edge rusher along with wide receiver, running back, center and backup quarterback among other areas where depth could be addressed this offseason.
Among some of the top free agents still available:
■ Lions receiver Kenny Golladay and Steelers receiver Juju SmithSchuster, who could be expensive pass catchers to sign. Still, a large contract could be negotiated by Miami.
■ Edge rushers under 30-years-old like Haason Reddick, Carl Lawson and Bud Dupree, while some over 30 like Melvin Ingram, Carlos Dunlap, Everson Griffen, Allen Bailey, Ziggy Ansah and Justin Houston could be in play.
■ And plenty of running backs like James Conner, Jamaal Williams, Phillip Lindsey, Todd Gurley, Duke Johnson, James White, Leonard Fournette and Le’Veon Bell are available.
Among some players the Dolphins saw agreeing to deals with other teams:
■ Aaron Jones agreed to a fouryear, $48 million deal to remain with the Green Bay Packers as the best available running back in free agency came off the board. Jones
and the Dolphins had some mutual interest.
■ Edge rusher Shaq Barrett, who the Dolphins also had interest in, will return to the Buccaneers. The defending Super Bowl champions also re-signed quarterback Tom Brady and linebacker Lavonte David, while receiver Chris Godwin got the franchise tag.
■ The Patriots are signing talented tight end and former FIU standout Jonnu Smith, talented edge rusher Matt Judon, former Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, cornerback Jalen Mills and receiver Nelson Agholor. They also re-signed quarterback Cam Newton before free agency began.
■ The Raiders will reportedly sign defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, one of the top edge rushers available this offseason.
■ The Bills re-signed offensive tackle Daryl Williams and linebacker Matt Milano, who helped Buffalo win the AFC East last season.
■ The Chiefs are signing guard Joe Thuney, who Miami was interested in last offseason, while the Chargers are making former Packers lineman Corey Linsley the highest-paid center in the NFL. Both players signed five-year deals.
■ The Texans are adding former Dolphins linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill to a one-year deal.
While the Dolphins were mostly quiet Monday, outside of the Biegel deal, remember the moves they have already made this offseason:
■ Released Van Noy one year into a four-year, $51 million deal to create $9.75 million in cap space.
■ Acquired former firstround offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson from the Tennessee Titans to add depth on the offensive line.
■ Added inside linebacker Benardrick McKinney from the Texans, filling a need in the heart of the defense, while trading away Lawson after one season into his three-year, $30 million deal he signed with Miami last year.
■ On special teams, the Dolphins signed kicker Jason Sanders to a four-year extension and signed punter Michael Palardy to replace Matt Haack.
The early free agency period continues until Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the NFL’s new league year begins and teams can officially announce their new signees.